for the fiscal cliff. >> reporter: some republican lawmakers say president obama wants the country to fall off the fiscal cliff. >> we were going to go over the cliff before, we're going to go over the cliff now because that's what the president wants. you cannot negotiate with someone who doesn't want to negotiate. >> reporter: that would raise taxes on people making more than $200,000 a year. each making a parting pitch. >> i've asked leaders of congress to work toward a package that prevents a tax hike on middle class americans, prevents unemployment insurance for 2 million americans and lays the ground work for further work on both growth and deficit reduction. >> the presidents solution of raising tax rates would still be ready for as far as the eye can see and it would hurt jobs. >> the partisan bickering has put the country on the brink of a financial crisis. >> it's the first time that i feel it's more likely that we will go over the cliff than not. and that if we allow that to happen it will be the most collosal consequential in a very long time. >> reporter: president obama